Two fifths of retired renters were previously home owners

Many retired homeowners in the United Kingdom are stepping off the property ladder to join the 25 per cent of retirees who already rent, according to research by Prudential.

More than two in five – 42 per cent – of these retired renters are former homeowners who, for various reasons, have made the decision to sell up.

The Prudential study found that retired people’s decision to sell their property and move into rented accommodation was mainly driven by financial reasons. Two in five were forced to sell their homes to pay off debts, 19 per cent needed to release funds in order to cover the cost of a divorce or separation, and 9 per cent sold their home so they could use the money to boost their retirement income.

But the study also shows that moving into rented accommodation comes at a cost. Retired renters pay an average rent of £423 a month – two-thirds more than the average mortgage repayment paid by retirees who still have home loans, of £257 a month.

For someone retiring in 2013 and paying the average rent, the annual cost of putting a roof over their head will account for nearly a third of the average expected retirement income of £15,3002 a year (as measured by Prudential’s Class of 2013 research study).

Stan Russell, a retirement expert at Prudential, said: “Renting in retirement can make financial sense and accessing property wealth to boost retirement income is a genuine solution for many. Our research shows that many retired renters are perfectly happy with this arrangement.

“However, retirees should be aware of the extra financial burden they could be taking on if they choose to sell up and rent. I would urge everyone in the run up to retirement to speak with a financial adviser to help them plan and save for the income they’ll need to cover their costs when they stop working.

“The fact that some retirees say they are being forced to sell up purely by the need to pay off debts is concerning and suggests they are not receiving professional advice. Organisations like the Money Advice Service and Citizens’ Advice Bureau offer free advice and can help enormously in these situations.”

Some 15 per cent of retired renters choose not to own their home as a lifestyle choice, while 35 per cent rent because they don’t have enough money for a deposit to buy a property and 41 per cent cannot afford home ownership. The majority of retired renters 58 per cent have never owned a home and nearly three quarters of them 73 per cent plan to continue renting for the foreseeable future.

Seven per cent used some money from the sale of their property to help their children get onto the property ladder, while nine per cent used the money to help support their children in other ways.